In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Martin Rees, then 37, of West Avenue, Staffordshire, is serving a lengthy prison sentence for a “vile” series of predatory attacks. On Wednesday, 22 May 2019, Rees, a former driving instructor, appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where he was jailed for 18 years for the rape of a child and the sexual assault of multiple female students.
The investigation established that Rees was arrested at an address in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, in March 2018 after a 14-year-old girl reported she had been raped. Detectives from the Staffordshire Police Child Protection and Exploitation Team (CPET) seized an electronic device and a mobile phone, discovering “vicious” evidence of his offending. Officers found 29 video clips of female students on Rees’ phone, including one “despicable” recording of a teenager who was unconscious while he sexually assaulted her.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Judge David Fletcher emphasised that Rees had a “disturbing and unhealthy interest in young children and extreme pornography.” The court reported that the eight victims were aged between 14 and 25 at the time of the offences, which spanned a three-year period from February 2015 to March 2018. The prosecution emphasised that Rees used his position as a driving instructor to target “vulnerable” young women, luring them into his vehicle where he could carry out his “vile” attacks.
The judge emphasised that the defendant’s behaviour was “reprehensible” and that he posed a significant risk to the public. The investigation reported that Rees had methodically recorded his “vicious” assaults, creating a “sickening” digital library of his crimes. For his actions in Staffordshire, the court determined that Rees must serve at least 13 years in custody before being eligible for parole, with the remainder of his 18-year term served on an extended licence.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Martin Rees was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 18 years (13 years in immediate custody with a five-year extended licence).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- SHPO: A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed for life to restrict his future contact with females.
- Convictions: Found guilty of rape and multiple counts of sexual assault.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Rees is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Staffordshire Police and the prison estate. Due to the “vicious” nature of his attacks and his use of a professional role to groom victims, his management remains under the highest level of scrutiny.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Rees must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Staffordshire. Authorities state that his “vile” history of recording unconscious victims necessitates strict digital monitoring by the Public Protection Unit. Any breach of his registration conditions, his SHPO, or his licence terms—should he be released—will result in his immediate arrest and return to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
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